Longmont Humane Society: donations off to a slow start in 2014

A kitten plays at the Longmont Humane Society. The nonprofit is still seeking donations to pay off its $2.4 million remaining building loan. (Matthew Jonas / Longmont Times-Call file photo)

Less than two months into the year, the Longmont Humane Society is seeking ways to boost donations before their next $772,227 annual payment is due in November.

Last year, the nonprofit collected $532,346 in donations toward the payment, which paid for a facility expansion, after the organization announced that their savings were drained due to $1.6 million in deficits and increased operating costs following the expansion. The difference — $239,931 — was paid with investments that the Humane Society cashed out in November after it was short of the full amount, said director Liz Smokowski.

To donate

Checks should be made out to the Longmont Humane Society with "now and forever" written in the memo line and mailed to:

Donations were strong in December, Smokowski said. The nonprofit collected $120,622 in December toward the campaign, "The Longmont Humane Society: Serving the Community Now and Forever," which seeks to pay off the remaining $2.4 million loan.

But donations dropped drastically in January to $957, Smokowski said.

Humane Society staff has started discussions with banks about renegotiating the terms of the loan, which could reduce the annual payment and take some pressure off of the organization. So far, there have been no formal agreements, she said.

Staff and program cuts were made in 2012 to reduce costs but there are no further cuts planned for 2014.

"Our Board of Directors and senior staff are currently reviewing our options on how to strategically approach the next phase of the campaign," Smokowski said in an email Friday.